Herbert Eck

The Phillies and Eagles, voracious reading, Maker''s Mark, daytime soaps, ice cream, Tastykakes, playing cards, breakfast, talking about World War II: these were a few of Bud Eck''s favorite things.

Born in Lebanon on October 17, 1918, to Ambrose and Ruth (Strohman) Eck, Herbert Ambrose "Bud" Eck was a lifelong city resident who took great pleasure in time spent with loved ones. He savored the small joys of life, such as delving into Tom Clancy''s latest thriller and enjoying a cold beer while watching the Phillies clobber the Cardinals (much to the chagrin of his Cardinals-loving son-in-law Steve).

A 1936 graduate of Lebanon High School, he followed in his father and four uncles'' footsteps in 1937 by joining the crew at Bethlehem Steel, working his way up to chief shipping clerk and then assistant foreman in the bolt and nut warehouse. He retired in 1981 after 44 years of service.

Bud enlisted in the US Army in November 1941 and served as a Corporal and Assistant Squad Sergeant in the 19th Combat Engineer Regiment. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood and his Regiment took up defensive positions against a possible Japanese invasion of California early in the war, when a Japanese submarine shelled Santa Barbara.

In August 1942 his Regiment sailed to Europe to serve in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. They landed in North Africa on African D-Day, November 8, 1942, and entered the Tunisian campaign in January 1943. They held the right flank for 72 hours in Kasserine Pass and provided cover for several other infantry divisions in the concluding phase of the African campaign. While serving in support of a Ranger battalion, the 19th Engineers removed more than 15,000 mines from a single minefield in Sened, Tunisia.

They were in the vanguard during the invasion of Sicily and built the first American airfields there. They cleared the beaches for incoming supplies and supported infantry divisions in the advance to the Messina Straits. Bud''s Regiment entered the Italian campaign in October 1943. They backed up infantry, ferried doughboys across rivers through intense gunfire, cleared mines, built and maintained footbridges, and held open approach routes to the water barrier. In the Rome offensive, they supported the First Special Service Force and the 85th Custer and 88th Blue Devil divisions, and also aided them as they bridged the Arno River and breached the Gothic Line. While in Italy, Bud was lucky enough to meet General Patton.

Throughout the war Bud kept a lock of his childhood sweetheart Teeny''s hair with hima�"a keepsake he saved for the rest of his life. In May 1945, shortly after he returned from Europe, he and Teeny married, relishing 46 sweet, dedicated years of marriage until she passed away in 1991. They raised two daughters; spent time taking road trips near and far with neighbors, family, and friends; and later embraced grandparenthood with gusto.

A long-time member of St. Mark''s United Church of Christ, Bud was a quietly faithful man, one who was funny, humble, charming, thoughtful (on snowy days he would often dig out his neighbor''s car and sidewalk before she even arose for work), generous, stubborn (good luck trying to wrestle that restaurant check away from him!), compassionate toward other people and animals, and seasoned with a delightful Pennsylvania Dutch zest. He loved the holidays; even in his nineties, he still took the time to decorate for Christmas and set up a tree each year. And the man made a mean potato filling!

Herb, Bud, Dad, Papa, Papa Bud: however people knew him, they respected and cherished him. When he passed away peacefully on Monday, February 27, 2012, he left a Bud-shaped hole in the world that is keenly felt by all who loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Christine "Teeny" (Snyder) Eck; his sister, Dorothy Binner; and his parents. He is survived by daughters Susan Boyer (William Zappini) of Harrisburg and Kay Peyton (Stephen) of Pinehurst, N.C.; grandchildren Kristen Errera (Bryan) of Middletown, Md.; Jennifer Boyer of Frederick, Md.; Kelly Carron of Malden, Mass.; and Scott Peyton of San Francisco, Calif.; great-grandchildren Olivia Errera and Peyton Carron; sister Patricia Stormfeltz of Lebanon; and numerous nephews, nieces, and grandnephews and grandnieces.

Interment will be at Ebenezer Greenwood Cemetery on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mark''s United Church of Christ, Lebanon, PA or The Lebanon Valley Home, Annville, PA.